O mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour (of Judgement) is a terrible thing. The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the Torment of Allah.

[Surah al-Hajj, 22:1-2]

At-Tirmidhi recorded from Imran bin Husayn that when this verse was revealed, the Prophet was on a journey, and he said:

“Do you know what Day that is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said: That is the Day on which Allah will say to Adam, “Send forth (those of your progeny) who are to be sent to the Fire.” He will say, “O Lord, how many are to be sent to the Fire” He will say, “From every thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine will be in the Fire and one will be in Paradise.” The Muslims started to weep, then the Messenger of Allah said:

Be close in your rank and be straight forward, for there was never any Prophet but there was a time of ignorance just before his advent, so the number will be taken from that time of ignorance, and if that is not enough, it will be made up from the hypocrites. A parable of yours in comparison to the other nations is that, you are like a mark on the foreleg of an animal, or a mole on the flank of a camel. [Taken from Tafsir ibn Kathir]

Unfortunately we don’t have the Prophet here to reassure us; neither can we be compared to the Sahabah. So what makes us think that from every thousand we’re going to be the one going to Jannah?

…And give glad tidings to the Mukhbitin. Whose hearts are filled with fear when Allah is mentioned; who patiently bear whatever may befall them; and who perform al-­Salat, and who spend out of what We have provided them. [Surah al-Hajj, 22:34-35]

The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam) said: “There is no prayer more difficult to attend for hypocrites than Fajr and ‘Ishaa. And if they knew what they contain (i.e. good reward) they would attend them even if they had to come crawling.”

1. It is the day on which the religion was perfected and Allaah’s Favour was completed.

In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it had come to us Jews, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar said, “Which aayah?” He said: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [al-Maa’idah 5:3 – interpretation of the meaning]. ‘Umar said, “We know on which day and in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in ‘Arafaah on a Friday.”

2. It is a day of Eid for the people who are in that place.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Yawm ‘Arafaah (the day of ‘Arafaah), Yawm al-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice) and Ayyaam al-Tashreeq (the 3 days following Yawm al-Nahr) are Eid (festival) for us, the people of Islam. These are days of eating and drinking.” This was narrated by the authors of al-Sunan. It was reported that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: “It – i.e., the aayah ‘This day I have perfected…’ was revealed on a Friday, the Day of ‘Arafaah, both of which – praise be to Allaah – are Eids for us.”

3. It is a day by which Allaah swore an oath.

The Almighty cannot swear by anything except that which is mighty. Yawm ‘Arafaah is the “witnessed day” mentioned in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of ‘Arafaah].” [al-Burooj 85:3].

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the Day of ‘Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

It is the “odd” [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allaah swore in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And by the even and the odd” [al-Fajr 89:3]. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] and the odd is the Day of ‘Arafaah [i.e., 9th Dhoo’l-Hijjah] This is also the view of ‘Ikrimah and al-Dahhaak.

4. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years.

It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah. He said, “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.” Narrated by Muslim.

This (fasting) is mustahabb for those who are not on Hajj. In the case of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day of ‘Arafaah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast on this day in ‘Arafaah. It was narrated that he forbade fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah in ‘Arafaah.

5. It is the day on which Allaah took the covenant from the progeny of Adam.

It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah took the covenant from the loins of Adam in Na’maan, i.e., ‘Arafaah. He brought forth from his loins all his offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and said: ‘Am I not your Lord? They said, ‘Yes, we testify,’ let you should say on the Day of Resurrection: ‘Verily, we have been unaware of this.’ Or lest you should say: ‘It was only our fathers aforetime who took others as partners in worship along with Allaah, and we were (merely their) descendents after them; will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Baatil (i.e., ploytheism and committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping others besides Allaah)?’ [al-A’raaf 7:172-173 – interpretation of the meaning].” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. And there is no greater day than this and no greater covenant than this.

6. It is the day of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the Fire and pride in the people who are there:

In Saheeh Muslim it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafaah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’”

It was reported from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah expresses His pride to His angels at the time of ‘Ishaa’ on the Day of ‘Arafaah, about the people of ‘Arafaah. He says, ‘Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and dusty.’” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

Ata’ Ibn Raba’ said that there are three benefits of remembering death:

You would hasten to repentance: If you are always thinking about death, you are thinking about the akhirah and you would prepare for it and repent to Allah.

Content with a little: You would be satisfied with whatever Allah has given you, no matter how little. This is because you know this dunya is a temporary residence and so it is not of much concern to you.

You will not fight and compete with the people of this world over this world: And this would cause you to have tranquillity in the heart, because what makes people anxious is competing over material things, as this world is small and our desires are big. The Prophet (saw) said, “If the son of Adam had a valley of gold he would ask for another one and nothing would please him, except dirt (qabr) which terminates all his desires”

Taken from the Hereafter lecture series by Anwar al Awlaki (May Allah hasten his release)

Think O’ you who are deceived by this world, of death and its agonies, how difficult and bitter a cup it is. What a true promise death is! How fair a judge it is! Death is enough to fill the heart with fear and the eyes with tears, to separate people, destroy pleasure and put an end to all worldly hopes.

Have you given any thought, O’ son of Adam, to the day when you will die and will be taken out of your place? When you will move from the spaciousness (of this world) to the confines (of the grave), when friends and loved ones will let you down, and brothers and friends will desert you? When you will be taken from your bed and placed in a hole in the ground, and instead of a soft blanket you will be covered with dust and earth? O’ gatherer of wealth, O’ industrious builder, by Allah you will have nothing left of your possessions except shrouds, and even they will be destroyed and will vanish as your body disintegrates and turns to dust.

Where is the wealth that you amassed? Will it save you from these terrors? No indeed, you have left it behind for those who will not praise you, and you have come with your burdens (of sin) to the one Who will not excuse you.

Did you ever get that feeling…after giving a good reminder, a brief talk, after having written a commendable piece, or having just given simple advice to anyone…then suddenly it hits you…you look back at what you’ve said…and then time for a reality check…”I don’t even do some of the things I’ve just spoken about…so am I now a hypocrite?” So you continue to praise Allah that no one can open the curtains of your life …see your faults…time to keep silent…isnt it?

Did you ever get that feeling…when you were online or dealt with someone in “real” life…speaking to that person…then you noticing that they actually look up to you…believing that you’re worthy…maybe somewhat of a pious soul…but then you regrettably look at yourself…knowing what and who you “really” are! Makes you stop for a second…your heart feels weird at that very moment…time to keep away from people…isn’t it?

Did you ever get that feeling…when you’ve wronged someone…and you know you have…all the ahadith come in mind…about going back and apologising…about cutting relations for more than three days…about being the bigger and better person in a conflict…yet its so hard…beacuse you think that if you surrender to this…this ungrateful person…then this can only mean that its a sign of weakness…and so the shaytan wins…again…hmm…time for me to run away from these kind of situations…isnt it?

Did you ever get that feeling…when you begin to look at your life…CLEARLY…after days and days of blurred vision…and you realize that your faith has fallen…dropped…sunken…almost feels like living death…you look around you…the books…the tapes/cd’s…papers…knowledge…your small remembrance book…the way you started…the you way you fought…the way you struggle to reach where you are…and now look…just look at what I’ve become…time to go to sleep…just sleep…to forget…isn’t it?

Did you ever get that feeling…a long time ago…when you held the quran…you felt each and every single word as you read them…POWERFUL on the heart… weren’t they? you read it…on your bed…and it made you cry…and you felt as though you never wanted to be bothered…just you and Allah…and when Allah spoke of the believers…you stopped…pulled the quran back…you started to imagine…you thought maybe one day you would be one of them…those who live in jannah…Subhanna allah…when you heard a hadith…you somehow memorised it and kept reciting it back…conveyed it to almost everyone who crossed your path…as if you just heard the best announcement…those days were special…and you yearn for them now…it was all about Allah then…nothing else…time for us to bring back that feeling…that AMAZING feeling…isn’t it?

Wait…I’m not done…

Did you ever get the feeling while prostrating…lost in your love and humility for allah…just wishing in your heart…that Allah would take your life…right there and then…Time to bring back that feeling!! Isn’t it?

Did you ever get that feeling…when going early to the mosque felt good?? When you sat in the first row and after the prayer…you got to see everyone behind you and you knew you beat them?? Time to bring back that feeling!! Isn’t it?

Did you ever get that feeling…when you used to do everything for Allah…everything…you just didn’t care about people…even when you would post a thread like this?? TIME TO BRING BACK THAT FEELING?? Isn’t it?

Did you ever get that feeling….when you felt Allah watching you…YOU FELT IT…YOU FELT HIM WATCHING YOU….he was there with you…that second…somehow your head just went down…maybe out of humility…you don’t know what made it go that way….you knew…that he was the only one that guided you…watched over you…and helped you. That still hasn’t changed.

I was sorting out my stuff out when I came across a card that was given to me by a friend a couple of years ago. When I opened it up it had the following verse written in it:

Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord, and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty. [Surah al Hadid, Verse 21]

Reading it, all I could think was Subhan’Allah what an amazing verse! So I opened up my Qur’an and read it together with the previous ayah:

Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers, evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers, good-doers), whereas the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment. [Surah al Hadid, Verse 20]

In these two ayaat, Allah it telling us that this life and all that it contains is nothing. All the material things we compete for are worthless. They appear to be beautiful and beneficial but in reality they aren’t, because they are all temporary. It is the hereafter that will be everlasting. Rather than competing for this dunya, Allah is telling us to compete with regards to seeking forgiveness and why is that? Because the path of forgiveness is the path to Jannah